Writing Update

I’m working away on a new novel. A secondary character from Covert Justice just showed up on the front porch and sent things in a very interesting direction. This guy is persistent! I looked at him and thought, “I’m so glad you’re here, but I wish you’d let me know you were coming!” (I realize for those of you who don’t write, this may be a bit disturbing…welcome to my world!)
My author copies of Covert Justice should be arriving soon. I’m insanely excited to see them and hold them and put one on my bookshelf! I’m up to my eyeballs in promotion work for Covert Justice and excited to offer some fun treats for my readers!
For those of you who might not know, my publisher is Love Inspired Suspense and they offer a book club. If you sign up, you receive new releases in your mailbox 2 months before they are released to the public. This means that book club members will start receiving Covert Justice in just a few weeks! AAAGGGHHH!
Be on the lookout for an opportunity to join my prayer team. I’m convinced that there is NO WAY I can do this without having a strong team of prayer warriors behind me. I’ll be giving you the opportunity to commit to praying for me, and for the readers of Covert Justice, in the months ahead.

On Wednesday (April 1), we’ll be celebrating the first #KillerVoices book releases on Facebook with an all-day release party. Follow me on Facebook and join in the fun!

Some Links I Love for your Weekend:
Family
I loved this. We’ve all got strengths so let’s stop comparing! No, You’re Not More of a Real Mom Because Your House is Messy 
Yes! Yes! Yes! I prefer books over Kindles – this explains it so well. Why Digital Natives Prefer Reading in Print – Yes, You Read that Right 
Faith
Wisdom from my dear friend @LoriRoeleveld The Day God Forgot His Call On My Life 
Fiction
A must read, whether you write or not. The Trajectory Principle 
Useful for all suspense writers. Writing Spies – Which Agency Does What To Who? 
Food and Fitness
We love our foam rollers. Do you have one? 2 Things You Should be Doing on Your Foam Roll (That You Aren’t Doing Now) 
I couldn’t decide if I should post this under food or fun! Yeah for coffee! 3 to 5 Cups of Coffee a Day May Lower Heart Attack Risk 
Wanting to give spaghetti squash a try? This recipe is a staple at our house. We add pepperoni! 5 Ingredient Pizza Spaghetti Pie 
Fun
A little bit of salty language. Don’t read this one if you never make snide remarks – it’s high on the snarky scale! 17 Motivational Posters for Sarcastic Parents 
Sabotaged Cover

My copy of Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey arrived a couple of weeks ago and I intentionally put away in a cabinet.
Why?
Because I knew once I started reading it, I’d probably read it in one sitting. 
If the tiny tyrants who live here hadn’t wanted supper at a reasonable hour, I would have done just that. As it was, I knocked it out in one very enjoyable afternoon/evening of reading.
Sabotaged is the fifth and final (sob!) installment in the Alaskan Courage series which follows the adventures and romances of the McKenna siblings. I’ve been looking forward to this story since I read the first book in the series, Submerged. 
Why?
Because in Submerged, Reef McKenna is still the wandering, black sheep of the family, and I so wanted to see what would happen when he finally came home. 
The books in the Alaskan Courage series can be read as stand-alone novels, but I don’t recommend it. Especially for Sabotaged. We’ve learned a lot about Reef McKenna throughout the previous books, and when Sabotaged opens, he is not the man he was in Submerged. His character arc takes place over the course of the entire series, so if you just read Sabotaged, it might seem a little flat. 
Another reason for reading the previous books in the series first is that Reef’s relationship with Kirra Jacobs really begins in book four, Silenced, and if you haven’t read that, the romance in Sabotaged could seem to be a bit rushed. Not that it bothered me. 🙂 I liked it just fine. 
Dani Pettrey
As Sabotaged opens, Reef and Kirra have been teamed up on the search-and-rescue team supporting the Iditarod. But when Kirra’s uncle disappears, they quickly find themselves racing to save Kirra’s cousin, Meg, in time to prevent a massive disaster to the Alaskan environment and economy. 
Here’s why I liked Sabotaged:
  • The story is fast paced with several story lines that are interesting, but wind up being dead ends for the characters. I could feel the frustration as the characters realized they’d been wasting time chasing down the wrong leads. 
  • Kirra’s story is one that will resonate with far too many women, and I applaud Dani Pettrey for tackling a subject that is often swept under the rug. 
  • I loved the behind the scenes glimpses into the Iditarod—a race that has always fascinated me. 
  • I also loved the way all the McKenna’s are involved in the search for Meg. It was so fun to see some of my favorite characters in action again.
  • The Epilogue wrapped up the series with a nice glimpse into all five of the McKenna’s families. 

There wasn’t really anything that I didn’t like. 

As I mentioned before, the speed of the romance and the character arc might have bothered me if I’d read this as a stand alone, but in the context of the series, they made perfect sense. 
Sabotaged is a great read for anyone who enjoys Inspirational Romantic Suspense. The Alaskan setting and the McKenna family dynamics help the Alaskan Courage series stand out from other books in the genre. 
Highly recommended!

Twelve Years Ago, I Was Afraid

I’d given birth to our daughter at 5:22 p.m. The NICU team had gone to work immediately and rushed her away from me.
I didn’t even get to hold her.
A night that should have been filled with joy was tinged with fear.
Knowing what I know now, I could make an argument that I wasn’t nearly as afraid as I should have been.
If I’d known how long it would be before I got to hold my baby girl…
If I’d known how long it would be before we got to take her home…
If I’d known how my hands would tremble on the keys when I searched for Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome…
If I’d known how my motherhood experience wouldn’t come anywhere close to what I’d thought it would be…
If I’d known how my faith would shatter into a million pieces as everything I thought I knew about God got lost in the long days of specialists and therapies and one missed developmental milestone after another…
If I’d known how hard it would be to be Emma’s mom…
If I’d known what this journey would cost me…
I wasn’t nearly as afraid as I should have been.
BUT
From this place, 12 years in and knowing what I know now, I have to say that I shouldn’t have been as afraid as I was.
Because
God held her when I couldn’t.
God held me while I waited.
God sat with me as I read the description of a diagnosis I never wanted.
God caught the tears that hit the living room floor when the invitations for the playdates didn’t come and all the other kids were walking and talking and saying Mommy while we spent hours in therapy for her to learn how to touch her nose.
God watched as my faith crumbled and He didn’t get mad. Instead, He put my faith back together.
No longer the faith of a good girl who believed her good behavior would get her in good with a good God. 
No longer a faith in a God I had figured out.
No longer a faith that made sense.
Because God doesn’t do things the way I think He should. He transcends my understanding of logic and common sense. His scales don’t tip in my favor when I’m good, but always tip in the direction of my eternal good and the eternal good purposes of His Kingdom.
I don’t know what the future holds. Goodness knows there is plenty to fear.
Middle school.
Puberty (shoot.me.now).
Teenage years.
High school.
Adulthood.
The days when the little brothers are off to college and it’s just me and her again, like it was for the first five years before they came along.
Yeah, looking at that list, I’m afraid.
But I’m not nearly as afraid as I could be.
Because God is already there and there is nothing lurking over the horizon that will not first pass through His loving hands.
I know this not because a preacher told me. Not even because the Bible tells me so.
I know because I live it. Because every day, He is there. No matter what comes, He is already there. Even, especially, when what comes is something I would have preferred to avoid.
I know because God cares more about making me more like Him than He cares about whether or not I like Him. 
Because He cares more about my sanctification than my satisfaction.
Because He’s big enough to handle my fear, my doubt, my anger, my frustration, and understands me even when I throw a temper tantrum about His plans.
Because God uses scared people all the time.
Because twelve years ago, I was afraid.
Tonight, I’ll close my laptop, and sing a happy birthday goodnight to my Emma. The little girl who rocked my world. The little girl who made me into a much better mommy than I would have been if she hadn’t permanently altered my definition of motherhood. The little girl who drives me insane and brings me indescribable joy. The little girl God designed before the creation of the world to be exactly as she is. The little girl God has big plans for.
The little girl God entrusted to me twelve years ago, even though I was afraid.

 

Happy Sunday Out of the Boat readers!

What’s up this week…

It’s a birthday week here at the Blackburn house. Emma turns 12 today (Sunday) and Drew turns 4 on Tuesday. We have a birthday party at a local fire house scheduled for this afternoon. There will be lots of cake, allergy free blondies, presents, and fun.

It’s awesome, but I have no idea how my baby girl is already 12.
And my BABY is 4! Yikes! 

A writing update 
In case you missed it, Covert Justice has a cover! So fun.

I did make some significant progress on Book 2 this week. Not quite as much as I’d hoped for, thanks to the weather craziness we had here, but at least I moved the story forward.

A little link love
Some of my favorite finds this week. Maybe you’ll find something that inspires or encourages you. Or maybe it tickles your funny bone. Note: Not all of these posts are from Christian sources. Occasional salty language is possible. 
Faith and Family
The Day God Forgot His Call on My Life – Amazing post from my friend, Lori Roeleveld.

What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do – Wisdom from Michael Hyatt that closely mirrors something my dad has told me a lot. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, just do the next thing. Don’t worry about the list, just take the next thing you need to do and do that. Good stuff here!

Fiction 
Instagram for Writers – Great tips! I have an Instagram account, but I don’t use it that often. This post has inspired me to give it another try.

Why You Should Write With All the Senses . . . Except Sight – Fascinating post from The Write Practice

Fitness, Food, and Fun

Chick-fil-A Rival Chicken Strips – Great recipe from Life Made Full. I wouldn’t go so far as to say these are as good as Chick-fil-A, but they were very tasty and this is a recipe that everyone in the house enjoyed. 

Where Do Burpees Come From? – The history of my most hated exercise. 

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That’s it for this week.
I’m going to enjoy my family and friends this afternoon. I hope you have the chance to do the same!

May your week be filled with grace and peace,

Lynn

It’s finally here! 
I have to tell you…every time I look at it, the part that shocks me is my name.
My name on a book. (Insert very girly squealing).
One year ago, I was living in complete chaos. Our home had been a construction zone since early January thanks to some frozen water pipes that had done close to $40K in damage.  I don’t handle disruptions well. It was not prime writing time.
But someone mentioned a contest, and for reasons that make no sense to me, even now, I entered. I sent in my first page, then my synopsis. And in the midst of the craziness, I carved out the time to add thousands of words to the story that had been floating around in my brain for a couple of years.
My husband could have discouraged it. It really was a bad time.
Instead, he pushed, prodded, encouraged, and cheered me on. 
When I hit send on the evening of June 8th, the day before my 40th birthday, I had no real hope that this would happen. 
I still don’t know HOW it happened.
I know I prayed. A LOT.
I know I cried. A LOT.
I know I panicked. A LOT.
I know I stayed up late and got up early. A LOT.
I know it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. And I know I love this story.
A LOT.
I really hope you will, too. 
About Covert Justice …
When a woman drags Blake Harrison out of his wrecked car, he knows the mysterious stranger has saved his life. But more shocking than the hit-and-run is the news that a crime cartel has infiltrated his factory. There’s a fortune to be made by tampering with the factory’s products . . . but only if Blake is out of the way. Undercover FBI agent Heidi Zimmerman has two goals – catch the criminals in the act, and keep Blake alive. Falling for the single dad and his adorable daughter isn’t in the plan. But everything changes when an abduction leaves Heidi face-to-face with a killer, revealing the danger that’s been hiding in plain sight all along . . .

Covert Justice is available for pre-order on Amazon. It will be available in Wal-mart stores in June. I can’t wait for you to meat Heidi and Blake. They are two of my favorite people.
(Yes, I know they aren’t real…)

I have some fun things planned for my readers, including an opportunity to win free copies of Covert Justice, and an exclusive deleted scene!
So stay tuned!

Click to Tweet: Check out this great cover for Covert Justice from @LynnHBlackburn.

If you’re on Goodreads, I’d love for you to add Covert Justice to your to-be-read list!

Covert Justice

Happy Sunday Out of the Boat readers!

Today, I’m starting a new weekend post. Let me know how you like it.
1st up – A writing update 
(Because about three of you really want to know)!
Covert Justice has a cover! Stop back by tomorrow for the big reveal!

Book 2 is actually starting to come along. By come along, I mean the characters have decided to talk to me again and I have a good idea of what sort of torture I’m about to inflict upon them. By Tuesday, I will probably be back in the Pit of Despair, convinced I’ll never finish another book. EVER. It’s a vicious cycle. 

I now have a Goodreads Author Profile. If you are on Goodreads, I’d love for you to stop by and add Covert Justice to your to-be-read shelf and maybe ask me a question about the book. Thanks!

Covert Justice is also available for pre-order on Amazon. Seeing the book, with my name, on Amazon and Goodreads has been C-R-A-Z-Y fun. Until I start thinking about getting reviews. Then I experience shortness of breath and the room starts spinning. (I’m joking. Kinda).
2nd – A little link love. 
Some of my favorite finds this week. Maybe you’ll find something that inspires or encourages you. Or maybe it tickles your funny bone. Note: Not all of these posts are from Christian sources. Occasional salty language is possible. 
Faith and Family
The One Question Every Parent Should Quit Asking by Scott Dannemiller @HuffPost Parents – good stuff

Dear Mom Who Refuses to Rest by Ruth Simons @ gracelaced – toe stomping good stuff

7 Ways to Prepare as a Homeschool Mom @ Teachers of Good Things – Yep. We’re thinking about heading down this path and this was a great post.
Fiction 
Top Ten Things You Need to Know About the Writing Life from James Scott Bell @ The Kill Zone – JSB always has good advice.

On Becoming a Writer from Jen Hatmaker – Got doubts about writing? Read this.

Write Free by Carla Laureano @ Seriously Write – And this.

7 Days to Less Productivity and More Creativity by Allen Arnold @ Novel Rocket – This totally changed my week. It specifically applies to writers, but it could be just what you need for whatever God has called you to this week.
Fitness, Food, and Fun
Sausage, Potato and Spinach Soup from Damn Delicious – Best recipe find from our recent Whole45. You don’t have to eat Paleo or be on a Whole30 to appreciate this soup. It’s awesome and reheats beautifully. Comfort food for a cold day. (If you’re dairy free, use full-fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream. I promise you can’t taste it).
Chalk This One Up – Do CrossFit? Lift heavy? You need some chalk. This cracked me up!

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That’s it for this week.
I’m headed out to stock up for the winter storm that may or may not give us some snow and/or ice tomorrow. This the first real shot we’ve had all winter. I know my friends up North are sick of the white stuff, but I won’t lie…I wouldn’t mind a snow day!

May your week be filled with grace and peace,

Lynn

Sometimes God asks you to skip Bible study.

I know. Not really what you’d expect is it? Bible study is good. Fellowship with other believers is good. Showing up when you’ve committed to something is good.
All good.
But not always best.
I will fully admit that when I skipped Bible study, I didn’t expect God to do anything super special. In fact, I didn’t fully realize He was the one behind it.
I was tired, not quite recovered from a week of doctors visits, sore throats, swollen ears and fevers. Looking at the week ahead and the items on the calendar, I sensed that something needed to give. Something had to go. 
I prayed about my day, about my week, for insight into how to get it all in. Were there things I could give up? Maybe I could run my errands in the evening? Or push back a few of my self-imposed deadlines? Maybe I could move a few things from this week to next week?
I could have done all of those things, but I had a nagging sense that I needed to skip Bible study.
I fought it.
For one thing, I co-lead our group. Leaders are supposed to show up. 
For another, I’m the kind of person who, once committed to something, sees it through. I wasn’t running a fever. I wasn’t contagious. All the kids went to school. Sure, I was running on fumes and still had a nasty cough, but there was no good reason not to go. 
And, most annoying, not showing up would make me look bad. I expend a lot of energy trying to avoid that. (I’d like to tell you that I’m a recovering people pleaser and that I used to seek approval from the people I interact with. But that would indicate that I’ve somehow gotten over those traits. The truth is I fight them. Hourly).
There’s nothing wrong with being conscientious. There’s nothing wrong with having a strong work ethic, with following through on what you say you’ll do, on showing up.
Except when God’s nudging you to do something different.
It would be easier if God would write this stuff on my calendar. If, when I opened to today’s date, I found “Bible study” crossed out and “Divine Appt. – Target – 10:30 a.m.” written in. Then I would know what to do and I wouldn’t suffer any angst about it. (Is it sacrilegious to wish God had a red Sharpie?)
Maybe as I continue to seek God’s will, to lean into the Spirit throughout the day, maybe someday I’ll recognize these nudges for what they are. 
As it was, when the opportunity presented itself—one that started safely in my comfort zone and quickly spiraled out of it—I was stunned for a moment. Then it all started to come into focus I should have been a little scared, but I wasn’t, because that same sense that had nudged me to skip Bible study made it clear.
This was why.
It wasn’t a big thing, but it was. 
It would be easy to chalk it up to coincidence, but it wasn’t. 
A few weeks ago, one of my sons asked me why I go to Bible study. We talked for a long time about how big God is. About how He wants us to know Him, but He is so huge, we can study Him our entire lives, and we won’t even come close to knowing all there is to know about Him. How He will always have more to reveal about Himself to us, if we are paying attention. 
Today, He got my attention.
He asked me to skip Bible study.
And then He took me on an adventure with Him.
I can’t help but wonder….how many adventures have I missed?

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.”
“I should think so—in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures.  Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

It’s Seekerville Day!

My sister Killer Voices and I are being interviewed over at Seekerville. 
For those of you who might not know, Seekerville is a hugely popular blog written by The Seekers – a group of writers who met several years ago while they were all “seeking” publication. 
They’ve all achieved their goal, and Seekerville remains a place for writers seeking publication to find ideas, encouragement, and wisdom for the publication journey. 
I would love it if you’d stop by and check it out!

As most of you know, I entered a contest last Spring called The Search for a Killer Voice. When it was all over, six authors earned book contracts, myself included.

My fellow Killer Voices have been a great source of encouragement and support to me during the revision process, and I’m thrilled to participate in the cover reveal for the three books releasing April 1st!
I would love for you to check out these awesome titles and support the authors who have become sweet friends over the past few months!

A PRINCESS IN PERIL 

Hidden away for more than fourteen years, Thea James was presumed dead by most—killed in the fire that burned the royal palace. But Ronin Parrish knows the truth…and so does the person who murdered Thea’s father, the king. Ronin takes his new duty as Thea’s bodyguard seriously. After all, she’s the only one who can clear his father of the king’s murder. It doesn’t matter that the princess’s beauty and strength draw him to her. To a commoner like him, she can never be more than a mission. Now he’s in a race to restore the princess to her rightful place on the throne before the unknown killer prematurely ends her reign.
Tammy Johnson

I’m a sucker for stories from unknown kingdoms, especially if you throw in a little romance between a royal and a commoner. And Royal Rescue by Tammy Johnson has it all. You’ve got a princess, a murder plot, a heroic bodyguard…what’s not to love! 



DEADLY REUNION 
CIA agent Shaun Carter is on the trail of an international crime ring, and the sudden appearance of a woman from his past could jeopardize his mission. Missing persons investigator Lexie Reilly’s search for a missing teen has put her in the criminals’ crosshairs. Joining forces to take down this ring is their only chance of survival. Shaun vows to keep the beautiful investigator out of harm’s way and help her find the lost girl. But when their ferry becomes icebound, they are trapped at sea with killers who will stop at nothing to keep them from discovering their secrets.
Michelle Karl

I do love spies. I mean, I don’t know any personally. At least I don’t think I do. 🙂 But I do love stories about spies, and the premise of Fatal Freeze by Michelle Karl has intrigued me for months. Trapped at sea with the killers? I’m biting my nails at the thought!

“I’M INNOCENT!” 
After four years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, Melanie Swanson’s finally free. Yet starting over brings a heavy load of challenges. Nearly everyone believes she’s guilty—including police lieutenant Jace Tucker. Jace’s certainty cracks only when Melanie is repeatedly attacked, and when the people around her are picked off one by one. Melanie’s clearly innocent—and terrified. Someone wants her dead to keep her shattered memories from recalling the crime she witnessed rather than caused. She lost her friends, her fiancé and her freedom when she was found guilty—but proving her innocence could cost Melanie her life.
Dana R. Lynn
Can you imagine being found guilty of a crime you didn’t commit and no one believing in your innocence? What would it take to overcome that? Could you ever fall in love with someone who thought you were guilty? I can’t wait to see how Presumed Guilty by Dana R. Lynn answers these questions!
You can click on the titles above to pre-order these books. While you’re there, you could go ahead and pre-order two other Killer Voices books. Into Thin Air by Mary Ellen Porter will release May 1. And, of course, Covert Justice will release June 1. Those covers will be revealed soon!
The final Killer Voice book is a Christmas story from Cate Nolan. We won’t get to read it until October, but stay tuned for that one!
Don’t they all sound wonderful? And all so different! I’d love to hear from you. Which one would you pick up first and why? I’m going to have to just put them in a bag and let my kids pick the order. I’ll never be able to choose!

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It’s resolution time.
Whether we make them or not, we are all thinking about them.
Because deep down, we know something is missing. We aren’t who we want to be. We aren’t living the life we want to live.

We don’t understand it, this need, this desire, we just know we long for more. 
But more what?
We know what it isn’t more of. It isn’t more food, more money, more sex, more stuff, more wine, or more leisure. 
Oh sure, we want some of that. We joke about what we’d do if we won the lottery. We like to imagine what it would be like to never worry about the price tag, the deadline, the calorie count, or the consequences.
We forget, because we are human and easily distracted, that we are immortal beings. Our bodies will die, but not our souls.

We were made for eternity. 
Made for communion with God. 
Made for so very much more.
We want the “more” and we look for it everywhere.
We eat one more piece of pie, because daggumit it tastes great so we don’t think about the headache, weight gain, or intestinal distress that we know is coming.
We go out with one more person who we know will ask for more that we should give and we don’t think about the way the euphoria of the moment will flee and leave us empty, again.
We take one more drink, buy one more outfit, make one more deal under the table because we are addicted to the rush, the thrill, the chase and the last time we got a hit of fulfillment was too long ago.

We keep trying to make ourselves happy.
We keep failing.
But the Creator of our soul, the One who created us with that hole we cannot fill, He told us where satisfaction can be found. 
The only place it can be found.
In Him.
So why do we turn our back on Him?

I can’t answer that for you, but I’ve been thinking about it, and for me, I think it’s because somehow, I’ve bought into the lie that all that other stuff is better than anything God can offer me. 
Or the lie that says that living a life sold out to Him requires too much sacrifice because I’ll have to give up too much of what I want.
I grow blind to how doing it my way is making me miserable. I can’t see that doing life His way, while not easy, leads to a satisfaction and contentment that nothing else offers. 
It’s just like with food (feel free to insert your own vice here). I know certain foods make me feel gross, but sometimes I eat them anyway. I get tired of being “good”, start feeling deprived and then all I can think about is what I’m missing out on. “Why can’t I eat that? Why can other people eat it when I can’t? What does it really matter if I have another donut/cookie/Coke/bagel/piece of fudge?”
I forget how good I feel when I exercise a little self-control. I ignore the fact that when I feast on good things, I don’t feel hungry or stuffed. I feel amazing.
The Bible tells us, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” In another passage it says, “Taste, and see that the LORD is good.” And in another, the Psalmist says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” (Clearly the Almighty knew that at least some of us would relate to food 
analogies.)

What if we took Him at His Word? What if we believed that the One who CREATED US, longed for us enough to come to earth and BE WITH US, loved us enough to DIE FOR US, might actually be the key to SATISFYING US?
If you don’t know Jesus, and you’re afraid to get to know Him because you think He’s going to ask you to give up everything awesome, can I beg you to reconsider? To think about how He gave His life so that you could have abundant life? To look at that empty place and dare to imagine what it would be like to finally have it filled?
If you do know Jesus, but you’re afraid to give Him everything because you think He’s going to ask you to do something you don’t want to do, can I ask you to trust Him more? You’ve trusted Him with your eternal destiny. Can you not trust Him with your day-to-day? Can you dare to imagine how amazing you could feel when you wake up each morning—not knowing what the day will bring but knowing it will be an adventure worth taking?
What if we made our 2015 resolution this….just this….
To Trust Him More.
What would that look like?
Let’s find out!

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